Eye Doctors Save Lives

Article: Vision Impairment is Associated with Mortality
Source: University of Michigan Health, via ScienceDaily
Published: March 5, 2021

Researchers at the University of Michigan Health conducted a meta-analysis of 17 studies consisting of 48,000 people collectively to investigate the association between visual disability and risk of all-cause mortality on a global scale. They found that the risk of mortality was 29% higher for participants with mild vision impairment, compared to normal vision, and that the risk increased to 89% among those with severe vision impairment. Most of these cases, such as cataracts and unmet need for glasses, can be prevented or corrected. The study compliments the researchers' earlier work highlighting the impact of vision impairment on health and well-being. One of the investigators states, “It’s important these issues are addressed early on because losing your vision affects more than just how you see the world; it affects your experience of the world and your life. This analysis provides an important opportunity to promote not only health and well-being, but also longevity by correcting, rehabilitating, and preventing avoidable vision loss across the globe.”

Personal commentary: Living in a privileged country such as the U.S. causes us to sometimes forget the unmet need of millions of people across the globe who live with visual impairment and even blindness. As the study points out, four out of five cases of visual disability are due to cataracts and unmet need for glasses, both of which are preventable or correctable. I remember the first time reading a similar article to this and making the connection that eye doctors save lives. We often don't realize it because, again, we live in a country such as the U.S. But looking through an often blurrier and smudgier global lens reminds us of the difference in experience that people in different countries or situations face. There is no shortage of need anywhere, but it explains why historically, I have preferred to engage in (what used to be at one point, monthly) mission trips to Mexico. This is why if asked where I want to focus my attention, it would be cataracts. Note that the two leading causes of global visual need are refractive and, comparatively, simple. We should celebrate the life-saving work of all eye doctors, both the ones who help us forget that we would have vision and health problems otherwise and the ones working to bring clear vision to those in need globally.

My rating of this study: ⭐⭐⭐🌸

Further reading: Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying cataract development